Comparison and Contrast

1. Comparison and Contrast

2. Review • Compare- to examine how thing are similar • Contrast- to examine how things are different

3. The Prompt—for our example today • Compare and contrast the two poems by Edgar Lee Masters.

4. “George Gray”Edgar Lee Masters • I have studied many times • The marble which was chiseled for me— • A boat with a furled sail at rest in a harbor. • In truth it pictures not my destination • 5 But my life. • For love was offered me…and I shrank from its • disillusionment: • Sorrow knocked at my door, but I was afraid: • Ambition called to me, but I dreaded the chances. • Yet all the while I hungered for meaning in my life. • 10 And now I know that we must lift the sail • And catch the winds of destiny • Wherever they drive the boat. • To put meaning in one’s life may end in madness. • But life without meaning is the torture • 15 Of restless and vague desire— • It is a boat longing for the sea and yet afraid.

5. The earth keeps some vibration going There in your heart, and that is you. And if the people find you can fiddle, Why fiddle you must, for all your life. 5 What do you see, a harvest of clover? Or a meadow to walk through to the river? The wind’s in the corn; you rub your hands For beeves hereafter ready for market; or else you hear the rustle of skirts 10 Like the girls when dancing at Little Grove. To Cooney Potter a pillar of dust Or whirling leaves meant ruinous drouth; They looked to me like Red-Head Sammy Stepping it off, to “Toor-a-Loor.” 15 How could I till my forty acres Not to speak of getting more, With a medley of horns, bassoons and piccolos Stirred in my brain by crows and robins And the creak of a windmill—only these? 20 And I never started to plow in my life That someone did not stop in the road And take me away to a dance or picnic. I ended up with a broken fiddle— 25 And a broken laugh, and a thousand memories, And not a single regret. “Fiddler Jones” Edgar Lee Masters

6. Some questions to consider when comparing two pieces of writing • What are their titles? • What do they describe or depict? • What is their tone or mood? • What is their form? • Why do you think they were created as they were? • What themes do they address? • Do you think one is of higher quality or greater merit than the other(s)—and if so, why? For writing: what plot, characterization, setting, theme, tone, and type of narration are used?

7. Venn Diagram---one way to organize your thoughts Alike

8. Another way to organize thoughts Topics George Gray Fiddler Jones artistic lighthearted fulfilled talented regretful sad fearful desperate Character Sim/Dif Mood happy light playful optimistic heavy dark tragic depressing Sim/Dif Theme don’t hide from life take chances live your life meaning in life use your talents Sim/Dif Back to JOT

9. The Plan Things I might want to compare and or contrast- • Characters • Mood • Theme • In writing about each idea, you would include literary techniques used to convey these ideas.

10. Writing a Thesis Statement • Review your data • Decide to what extent you will stress the similarities between your subjects and to what extent you will stress their differences • Create a thesis statement that reflects that decision

11. Weak Thesis Statements • They are both somewhat alike and somewhat different. • I can see some similarities and some differences too. • Both of them involve (only a single similarity, no differences).

12. What is your point? Thesis Statement • Here, the point is to compare and contrast. • What will you compare and contrast? literary elements, events, or beliefs • Although the characters and mood in “George Gray” and “Fiddler Jones” by Edgar Lee Masters are vastly different, the theme of living life to its fullest is present in both.

13. I. Introduction—ALWAYS have a thesis…a full intro is not needed unless you have time a)Attention Getter or Hook b) Background Information c) Thesis II. Poem 1 Characters Mood Theme III. Poem 2 Characters Mood Theme IV. Conclusion a)Emphasize Major Ties b) Give insightful final thoughts Outline #1 - Block Method—Subject by SubjectWarning: these are VERY basic outlines Maybe not the best method b/c you could run out of time before you get to second poem, and sometimes, it feels like you are writing a mini essay on poem 1 and then on poem 2 without ever connecting the two.

14. I. Introduction a) Attention Getter or Hook b) Background Information c) Thesis II. Character a) Poem 1 b) Poem 2 III. Mood a) Poem 1 b) Poem 2 IV. Theme a) Poem 1 b) Poem 2 IV. Conclusion a) Emphasize Major Ties b) Give insightful final thoughts Outline #2 - Point by Point Follow same order in each paragraph. A better idea to use b/c you can address similarities and/or differences of each poem next to each other. If you run out of time, you will have at least written about both poems thus answering the prompt.

15. To Compare also as in the same way like likewise similarly comparable equally in addition To Contrast -although -but -even though -however -on the other hand -otherwise -yet -still -conversely -as opposed to -different from -whereas Transitions—make good use of these so it doesn’t sound choppy.

16. Other thoughts continued • To do a good job, make the best effort to organize by ideas and not literary techniques. • In organizing by ideas, you will discuss literary techniques and HOW they convey the big ideas within each paragraph. • Talking about differences is usually more interesting than talking about similarities

17. Two Poems from Spoon River Anthology---a VERY brief example that would need work to make a good AP ESSAY! • “George Gray” and “Fiddler Jones” by Edgar Lee Masters are characters who speak from the grave from the book of poems called Spoon River Anthology. The main characters Fiddler Jones and George Gray are very different. Like night and day, the mood in each poem is in total contrast . Although the characters and mood in both poems are vastly different, the theme of living life to its fullest is present in both. • Fiddler Jones is the polar opposite of George Gray. While Fiddler Jones is artistic and lighthearted, George Gray is filled with regret, fear, and sadness. While fiddler Jones ended up with “a thousand memories,” George Gray lived life “without meaning.” One character embraced the human experience and the other hid from it. • Similarly,the mood in each poem is at opposite ends of the light spectrum. Fiddler Jones reflects of his life in a light and playful manner. He remembers being taken away by friends to “dance and picnic.” George Gray’s tragic life is punctuated by darkness, missed chances, and regret. He remembers hiding from life because he was afraid. • Both characters arrive at the same conclusion when reflecting on their lives; a life lived without meaning is meaningless. Even though George Gray missed his chance to experience life while living, he now sees the error of his ways. Fiddler Jones lived and felt every joy life offered because he also allowed himself to experience life’s pain.

18. This Week • Guided practice with “To the Virgins” and “Coy Mistress” • You will receive your c/c selection on Thursday---in class work • In-class timed-writing (summative) on Friday (or Thursday)